POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 283, 2 May 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL.

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT MOSXiIEL. THE BURDEN OF DEFENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward addressed a large meeting at Mosgiel this evening. Iv the course of his speech he dealt with the question, of defence, quoting fronr articles in the Melbourne Age, -which at one time supported a Commonwealth naVy, to show that the burden on' the Australian people was very heavy. Germany, with 80 million people, paid 18s 66 per head per annum for defence, and Australia, with five million people paid 40s per head. He hoped New Zealand would not l>e Tushed into a huge naval expenditure for a local navy. If wc were going on as we had been, this country would in five years be paying a million and a-half for naval and inter" national defence. He also touched on 1 the progress of the country under the Liberal Administration, and referred to ' the numerous measures passed by it foT the benefit of all classes of the community. Sir Joseph Ward was accord- < od a unanimous vote of thanks and con- j fidenee. J

JDK. WHJFOSB AT EAWBRA. HOHDBBM XUKHID &TUT, A telephone mesage received from Hawera just -before midaight stated tk»t Mr. Wilferd, JLP., oae ol the Lita-d TJljiag Squadrom," had a mo»(s flattering reception at Ms meeting in the Opera House. The experience of th« previous night at Stratford was repeated in the matter of attendance, hundreds being unable-to gain admission. Mr. Wil- , ford's address was closely followed and j his points quickly seized, applause being I hearty and frequent. j At the conclusion, a vote of thanks to I the speaker and further expressing the j hope that the next general election I would result in the return of the Liber- j als to power, was carried amidst enthus- ' ■iasm, culminating in three cheers for the j Liberals.